Q: I was reviewing my Social Security Statement online and found an error on my earnings record. What should I do?

A:

As Social Security Disability lawyers, we are glad to hear you are reviewing the earnings on your Social Security Statement. These earnings can directly affect the amount of your retirement or disability benefit.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) tracks your earnings for each calendar year that you work. It is important to check these earnings every year and make sure they are correct. If earnings are missing from the current or previous year, Social Security may still be working to process those earnings and apply them to your record. Make a note of the missing information and check your statement online at a later date. Earnings could be missing from earlier years for the following reasons:

Your employer reported your earnings incorrectly or used the wrong name or Social Security number.

You changed your name but never reported it to the Social Security Administration.

You worked using a Social Security number that belongs to someone else.

If you see an error or earnings are missing for a year that you worked and paid Social Security taxes, you should contact the SSA immediately in order to get your record corrected. You will be asked to fill out Form 7008, Request for Correction of Earnings Record. You must also provide proof of your claim such as a Form W-2, annual tax return or pay stub. If you have any questions or a special situation, you can contact your local Social Security office for assistance.

Social Security Disability benefits are a vital source of income for those who are sick or injured and unable to work. Unfortunately, Social Security benefit applications are often denied. Applicants must go through the appeals process in order to obtain the benefits they deserve. Those who hire an attorney often have a better chance of winning an appeal. Attorneys know the medical evidence required, the Social Security Disability laws and the judges who hear the cases.

Recent Results click below to expand

Gerry Kramer won a personal injury action for $10,043,952.13 in Northumberland County on behalf of a volunteer firefighter who was the victim of Intentional Tort. The 50-year-old volunteer firefighter was seriously injured when a barn collapsed, causing a spinal injury which left him a paraplegic. The claim was brought against the arsonist who intentionally started the fire. It is believed that the verdict is the highest ever in Northumberland County.

A couple from New Berlin, Pennsylvania was awarded over $4,000,000 because the husband was shot while turkey hunting. The 51 year old client lost his sight because a convicted felon - who should not have even possessed a gun - went hunting illegally, and broke with impunity the most fundamental rule in hunting: identify your target before you pull the trigger.

Scott Cooper obtained a verdict on behalf of his client who is the widow of a man who died in a crash on Interstate 78 in Lebanon County. The awarded verdict of $2.2 million was in a nonjury proceeding before a federal judge in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. That verdict includes $100,000 in punitive damages assessed against the owner of the trucking company.

Scott Cooper settled a wrongful death case on behalf of the widow of a police office who was killed in a car accident in the line of duty for $1,024,040.80. The claim against the other driver was amicably resolved before suit was filed for the entire available policy limits for the other driver. The case took place in Adams County, PA.

Gerry Kramer won a $950,000.00 suit in Perry County for a motor vehicle accident. The personal injury action for a wrongful death was filed on behalf of a 19-year-old female killed in the accident. The victim was a passenger in a vehicle that left the roadway striking a fixed object.

Scott Cooper settled a wrongful death claim for $742,000 on behalf of a the estate of a trash worker killed in a car accident in Franklin County. The case was amicably resolved for all of the available insurance policy coverage for the other driver and under insured motorist carrier. Also, Mr. Cooper was able to amicably resolved all subrogation interests with the worker's compensation carrier for a lump sum and agreement for the subrogation claim to be waived in full.

Gerry Kramer won a $215,000.00 personal injury action on behalf of a drunk driving victim in York County. The victim was a 56-year-old man who was struck by drunk driver in Lancaster County, PA. He suffered a subdural hematoma which resulted in severe headaches.